Neutron stars are the densest things
that are not black holes. Neutron stars are the densest things
that are not black holes. In their cores, we might find
the most dangerous substance in existence: In their cores, we might find
the most dangerous substance in existence: strange matter. A bizarre thing so extreme
that it bends the rules of the universe A bizarre thing so extreme
that it bends the rules of the universe strange matter. and could infect and destroy everything
it comes into contact with. and could infect and destroy everything
it comes into contact with. Or, it could teach us about how the universe began. Or, it could teach us about how the universe began. Maybe both. Maybe both. To understand how extreme strange matter really is, To understand how extreme strange matter really is, we first need to get a few basics. we first need to get a few basics. What is a neutron star, and how does strange
matter break the rules of the universe? What is a neutron star, and how does strange
matter break the rules of the universe? To get all of this into one video,
we'll grossly oversimplify a few things To get all of this into one video,
we'll grossly oversimplify a few things but we'll provide you with further reading,
if you want more details. but we'll provide you with further reading,
if you want more details. A neutron star is what remains after a very
massive star explodes in a supernova. A neutron star is what remains after a very
massive star explodes in a supernova. When this happens, the star's core collapses under its own gravity, When this happens, the star's core collapses under its own gravity, with such a strong inward force with such a strong inward force that it squeezes nuclei and particles together violently. that it squeezes nuclei and particles together violently. Electrons are pushed into protons,
so they merge, and turn into neutrons. Electrons are pushed into protons,
so they merge, and turn into neutrons. All the nothing inside of atoms
is suddenly completely filled with particles All the nothing inside of atoms
is suddenly completely filled with particles that really don't want to be close to each other but have no choice. that really don't want to be close to each other but have no choice. They desperately push back against gravity, against the collapse. They desperately push back against gravity, against the collapse. If gravity wins, they will become a black hole. If gravity wins, they will become a black hole. If they win, they become a neutron star. If they win, they become a neutron star. This makes neutron stars like giant atomic nuclei the size of a city, This makes neutron stars like giant atomic nuclei the size of a city, but holding the mass of our Sun. but holding the mass of our Sun. And here, things get weird. And here, things get weird. The environment in the core of neutron stars is so extreme The environment in the core of neutron stars is so extreme that the rules of nuclear physics change. that the rules of nuclear physics change. And, this could lead to a strange
and extremely dangerous substance. And, this could lead to a strange
and extremely dangerous substance. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We first need to know the rules
before we learn how they can be broken. We first need to know the rules
before we learn how they can be broken. Protons and neutrons, the particles
making up the nuclei of atoms, Protons and neutrons, the particles
making up the nuclei of atoms, are made up of smaller particles called quarks. are made up of smaller particles called quarks. Quarks really don't want to be alone. Quarks really don't want to be alone. They are what we call confined. They are what we call confined. You can try to separate them, but the harder you pull, You can try to separate them, but the harder you pull, the harder they try to pull themselves back together. the harder they try to pull themselves back together. If you use a lot of energy,
they just use this energy to create new quarks. If you use a lot of energy,
they just use this energy to create new quarks. Quarks only exist together
as the building blocks of other particles, Quarks only exist together
as the building blocks of other particles, and have never been observed by themselves. and have never been observed by themselves. They come in many types,
but only two appear to make stable matter: They come in many types,
but only two appear to make stable matter: the up and down quarks found in protons and neutrons. the up and down quarks found in protons and neutrons. All other quarks seem to decay away quickly. All other quarks seem to decay away quickly. But, this may be different inside neutron stars. But, this may be different inside neutron stars. The forces operating in their cores are so extreme, The forces operating in their cores are so extreme, that they are actually similar
to the universe shortly after the Big Bang. that they are actually similar
to the universe shortly after the Big Bang. Neutron star cores are like fossils Neutron star cores are like fossils which can let us peer back in time
to the beginning of everything. which can let us peer back in time
to the beginning of everything. So, learning how quarks behave inside a neutron star So, learning how quarks behave inside a neutron star is a way of understanding the very nature of the universe itself. is a way of understanding the very nature of the universe itself. One hypothesis, is that inside a neutron star core One hypothesis, is that inside a neutron star core protons and neutrons deconfine. protons and neutrons deconfine. All the particles cram shoulder-to-shoulder, All the particles cram shoulder-to-shoulder, dissolve, and melt into a sort-of bath of quarks. dissolve, and melt into a sort-of bath of quarks. Uncountable numbers of particles become
one giant thing made purely from quarks: Uncountable numbers of particles become
one giant thing made purely from quarks: quark matter. quark matter. A star made from this is called a quark star. A star made from this is called a quark star. Though, from the outside, it may not look
any different than a regular neutron star. Though, from the outside, it may not look
any different than a regular neutron star. Now, we can finally talk
about the most dangerous substance. Now, we can finally talk
about the most dangerous substance. If the pressure inside a quark star is great enough If the pressure inside a quark star is great enough it may get stranger. it may get stranger. Literally. Literally. In the cores of neutron stars, some of the quarks
may be converted into strange quarks. In the cores of neutron stars, some of the quarks
may be converted into strange quarks. Strange quarks have bizarre
nuclear properties and they are heavier Strange quarks have bizarre
nuclear properties and they are heavier and, for the lack of a better word, stronger. and, for the lack of a better word, stronger. If they turn up, they could create strange matter. If they turn up, they could create strange matter. Strange matter might be the ideal state of matter; Strange matter might be the ideal state of matter; perfectly dense, perfectly stable, indestructible. perfectly dense, perfectly stable, indestructible. More stable than any other matter in the universe. More stable than any other matter in the universe. So stable, that it can exist outside neutron stars. So stable, that it can exist outside neutron stars. If this is the case, we have a problem: If this is the case, we have a problem: it might be infectious. it might be infectious. Every piece of matter it touches
might be so impressed by its stability Every piece of matter it touches
might be so impressed by its stability that it would immediately turn it into strange matter, too. that it would immediately turn it into strange matter, too. Protons and neutrons would dissolve
and become part of the quark bath Protons and neutrons would dissolve
and become part of the quark bath which frees energy and creates more strange matter. which frees energy and creates more strange matter. The only way to get rid of it
would be to throw it into a black hole. The only way to get rid of it
would be to throw it into a black hole. But, then again, who cares? But, then again, who cares? All of it is inside neutron stars. All of it is inside neutron stars. Except when neutron stars collide with other neutron stars, Except when neutron stars collide with other neutron stars, or black holes, or black holes, they spew out tremendous amounts of their insides they spew out tremendous amounts of their insides some of which could include little droplets
of strange matter called strangelets. some of which could include little droplets
of strange matter called strangelets. Strangelets are as dense as the core of a neutron star. Strangelets are as dense as the core of a neutron star. They could be really small, maybe even subatomic, They could be really small, maybe even subatomic, but even the largest strangelets
wouldn't be any bigger than a rocket. but even the largest strangelets
wouldn't be any bigger than a rocket. These strangelets would drift
through the galaxy for millions or billions of years These strangelets would drift
through the galaxy for millions or billions of years until they meet a star or planet by chance. until they meet a star or planet by chance. If one were to strike Earth, it would immediately
start converting it into strange matter. If one were to strike Earth, it would immediately
start converting it into strange matter. The more it converts, the more it would grow. The more it converts, the more it would grow. Ultimately, all of the atoms
making up Earth would be converted. Ultimately, all of the atoms
making up Earth would be converted. Earth would become a hot clump
of strange matter, the size of an asteroid. Earth would become a hot clump
of strange matter, the size of an asteroid. If a strangelet strikes the Sun,
it would collapse into a strange star, If a strangelet strikes the Sun,
it would collapse into a strange star, eating through it like fire through a dry forest. eating through it like fire through a dry forest. This would not change the Sun's mass much,
but it would become way less bright, This would not change the Sun's mass much,
but it would become way less bright, so Earth would freeze to death. so Earth would freeze to death. And, like a tiny virus,
we'd have no way to see a strangelet coming. And, like a tiny virus,
we'd have no way to see a strangelet coming. Worse still, some theories
suggest strangelets are more than common Worse still, some theories
suggest strangelets are more than common outnumbering all stars in the galaxy. outnumbering all stars in the galaxy. These strangelets could have formed
very early after the Big Bang These strangelets could have formed
very early after the Big Bang when it was as hot and dense
as a neutron star core everywhere. when it was as hot and dense
as a neutron star core everywhere. They might be clumping around the gravity of galaxies, They might be clumping around the gravity of galaxies, as the universe expanded and evolved. as the universe expanded and evolved. Strangelets could even be so numerous and massive, Strangelets could even be so numerous and massive, that they might actually be the dark matter
we suspect holds galaxies together. that they might actually be the dark matter
we suspect holds galaxies together. But, then again, maybe not. But, then again, maybe not. This is speculation, and the Earth and Sun and planets This is speculation, and the Earth and Sun and planets haven't been consumed in a wildfire
of strangelets in the past few billion years haven't been consumed in a wildfire
of strangelets in the past few billion years so the odds seem good that it won't happen anytime soon. so the odds seem good that it won't happen anytime soon. Understanding these strange objects today may be
the key to understanding the birth of our universe Understanding these strange objects today may be
the key to understanding the birth of our universe and why it grew to look the way it does now. and why it grew to look the way it does now. When scientists first started playing with magnets
and wires and thinking about electrons, When scientists first started playing with magnets
and wires and thinking about electrons, they had no idea how technology
would evolve in the next hundred years. they had no idea how technology
would evolve in the next hundred years. The scientists thinking about the cause of
neutron stars and strange matter today The scientists thinking about the cause of
neutron stars and strange matter today may be setting up humans for
a future beyond our wildest imaginations. may be setting up humans for
a future beyond our wildest imaginations. Or, maybe not. Or, maybe not. Time will tell. Time will tell. So, while you're waiting to see if the universe gets destroyed So, while you're waiting to see if the universe gets destroyed you might still want to find out more about it. you might still want to find out more about it. We've got you. We've got you. Our friends from Brilliant can be
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Haha Up quark is happy and Down quark is sad, love this small details
Cool, now my anxiety is through the roof.
Yay. One more fear added to the fearbank!
Dr. Strangelets to the rescue!
It's strange, but who are we to judge?
So at any moment now, a strangelet (a small bit of strange matter) could completely devestate the solar system by falling onto either the Sun or Earth and proceeding to eat all other matter around it in the effort to reproduce into one giant ball of strange matter (much like a virus). The only way to stop strange matter (as far as we know) is through dumping it into a black hole.
That's terrifying.
As a side note, if anyone's curious about further reading Kurzgesagt's sources can be found here.
Am I the only one who's really sick of the YouTube comments below every single Kurzgesagt video? Except for the "Loneliness" video (and maybe that's also not the case anymore), there's nothing but lame jokes from people with "Pepe the frog" or Rick&Morty profile pics or the usual "OMGGG the animations sooo biutiful" bootlicking. No way to actually discuss with anyone about the topics presented in the video.
I'll go ahead and prep for the downvote brigade to begin. That was a speculative and weak video from Kurzgesagt; there are so many amazing things to talk about with quark stars and neutron stars, but Kurzg focused on one portion of quark/strange stars (I would almost call it click-bait content, as the meat of the video was similar to the same junk that was talked about with the LHC.
If you'd like a good overview video of quark/strange stars check out the PBS Space Time - Strange Stars.
And yeah - before you ask I like Kurzg, and I read through the sources, they just cherry picked the hell out of a lot of content to make a video about stranglets.
That was probably the most beautiful in a nutshell video since the one on beauty.